Free Pratctice

Pier Guidi/Bobbi second in pre-qualifying

24/10/2009
- Zolder

The eighty-minute practice held before the qualifying session was held on a variable track surface.

Pre-qualifying began on a wet track, caused by the rain, and ended with the circuit drying out. This meant that the lap times gradually improved as the session went on. The quickest time of 1:28.072 was set by Maassen/Biagi in a Corvette Z06. Just ahead of them were Pier Guidi/Bobbi, in a Maserati MC12, who set a time of 1:28.350. Müller/Ramos (1:28.780) finished fourth, ahead of their team-mates Bertolini/Bartels (1:28.957).

Tricky conditions in free practice

A wet surface, low grip, cold asphalt and low temperatures welcomed the drivers for the first hour and twenty minute unofficial test session.

The far from ideal conditions made it tough for the teams to find their race set up, one expected to be run in the dry, and so the three MC12 crews opted not to take any unnecessary risks.

The rain began to come down some twenty minutes into the session. It was light but still made the track difficult to negotiate. Even in these conditions, the Maseratis were competitive with Müller/Ramos clocking best time of 1:43.717 and Bertolini/Bartels second in 1:44.049; Bobbi/Pier Guidi posted the fifth fastest time (1:45.128).